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Consider the Source
Yoda's Advice to the Unknowing
Dear
Yoda,
It umm, well… It burns whenever I tinkle and
when I got to go…I got to go. I am a bit older
(10 people years) and my people think I am loosing
my marbles because I've had to go in all kinds of
places (shoes, dirty laundry, bathtubs etc…)
How do I tell them that I am terribly uncomfortable
and need help?
Darla's cat Lewis.
Hi Lewis,
I am not surprised you are having a communication
problem with your people- sometimes they can be so
insensitive!!! They probably don't know that most
inappropriate urination is due to infection or crystals!
You may want to start meowing when you go or try going
in front of them or even better yet, on them! (Caution,
do not try this on the man, as he may not take kindly
to it!). Sooner or later, your people should catch
on and have you checked by your veterinarian.
Dear Yoda,
I have a problem with my little adopted brother- he
won't stop sucking me. Day and night he licks and
sucks my fur. My owner tried spraying me with Bitter
Apple Spray, but every time I cleaned myself I drooled
and gagged, so she washed it off. She also tried outfitting
me with a sweater, but that made me extra cozy for
my brother to nuzzle in. I wouldn't mind, but he is
making some spots on my fur change from a beautiful
black, to a washed out brown. Why would he do this?
What can we do?
Nuzzled in Nanimo
Dear Nuzzled,
I once licked another cat, but he had stepped under
a falling ice cream cone. I looked it up in the books
and there is no category for "brother sucking".
There is however, "Wool sucking" A condition
in which cats suck on strange objects like blankets
or sweaters. It is a neurotic condition caused by
early separation or it could be a genetic problem
(Siamese are especially prone to this behaviour).
Your brother may outgrow the behaviour but you should
avoid sleeping or lying near him for now. If you don't
you could end up becoming a blonde.
Yoda
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Your
Eagle Ridge Veterinary Hospital Healthcare Team
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"Yoda"
the Cat
Dr. Don French
Dr. Shelley Murray
Tamara Cox
Darla Messner
Jaime Dragan
Kristy Hemstalk
Katrina Smith
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Goodwill
Ambassador
Veterinarian/Owner
Veterinarian
Reg. Animal Technologist
Veterinary Receptionist
Veterinary Assistant/Recept.
Veterinary Assistant
Veterinary Assistant
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WHO'S WHO AT THE ZOO!!
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(Krystle
Mager)
I moved here 11 years ago from North Battleford,
Sask. My love of horses began when I was very
young and I have had the opportunity to ride and
show quarter horses for the last 7 years.
I will be graduating from Chatelech Secondary
in June and will be attending college in Vancouver.
My focus is still undecided, but I look forward
to taking courses in Biology, Psychology and Spanish
as a second language.
I am an avid reader and enjoy the outdoors. My
spare time is spent swimming, reading, horseback
riding and 4x4ing (and studying of course!)
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SPCA
EVENTS
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Saturday, April 12th - 3rd Annual Fundraising
Auction
at Davis Bay Community Hall ~ doors open @ 6:30
p.m. with the auction starting @ 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 3rd - Plant & Book Sale
at the shelter
between 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. If anyone has any
plants or books they would donate we will gladly
accept them.
Saturday, May 10th - Bake Sale at Trail Bay
Mall
between 10:00 a.m. ~ 2:00 p.m.
Annual Garage Sale - June or July at the
shelter. We are gratefully accepting donations
of saleable items (no clothes please!) for our
garage sale.
People can contact Shirley @ 885-5204 to
donate plants or books, or baking for the sales.
Find out more information about events on our
web site
www.spca.bc.ca/sunshinecoast.
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EAGLE
RIDGE TURNS 20!!!
Twenty years ago on January 23, 1983 I proudly
opened a new veterinary hospital in Sechelt with the goal
of providing compassionate and progressive veterinary care
to the community. Thanks to you, the pet owners of the Sunshine
Coast, and your sometimes-reluctant companions, this dream
has been realized. It has been a wonderful and rewarding
experience that continues to stimulate and challenge me
daily. Getting to know all the pets and their families is
a big part of what makes veterinary practice such a satisfying
endeavour. I'm proud to say that the dedicated and exceptional
staff that I've worked with over the years is a big part
of why we've been able to provide high quality veterinary
medicine and caring service to you and your pets. Our goal
is to continue to expand and improve the healthcare we provide
ensuring your pets live happier and longer lives.
Celebrating our 20th anniversary has renewed
many fond memories of the unique characters that we've encountered
over the years. We've enjoyed laughs and the occasional
sorrow reminiscing about the trials and tribulations of
life with pets. To all the clients that I saw in our early
years that continue to come in, thank you for your ongoing
trust in us. To those who joined us more recently, my sincere
appreciation for choosing Eagle Ridge and entrusting us
with the care of your companions. I speak for the entire
Eagle Ridge team in saying we are committed to providing
dependable, compassionate and progressive veterinary healthcare
to all our patients.
Don French
TICK
TALK!
Lyme disease was first recognized during
the 1970s when investigators analyzed an unusual
cluster of juvenile arthritis in the small coastal
town of Lyme, Connecticut and the link was made
to a tick-borne disease. In 1982 Dr.Burgdorfer visualized
spirochetes (bacteria) in the midguts of certain
ticks and gave them the name Borrelia burgdorferi.Until
1993, Lyme disease was not believed to be endemic
in BC. A field survey conducted between February
and August of 1993 by the BC Ministry of Health
revealed that the bacteria, Borrelia Burgdorferi
was present among two tick species found in BC.
Dr. Banarjee, who heads the BC Ministry of Health's
research team at the Provincial Laboratory, has
confirmed 20 sites in BC, which are positive for
Borrelia Burgdorferi in ticks and rodents. They
are: Bowen Island, Cultus Lake, Harrison,
Hope, Metchosin, Nanoose Bay, Squamish, Galiano
Island, Campbell River, Quadra Island, Sechelt,
Keat's Island, Lasqueti Island, Langley, Powell
River, Burnaby Mountain, Salt Spring Island,
Duncan, Langford, and the newly identified site
of Cranbrook. Tests for the bacteria in Cranbrook,
which is close to the Alberta border, may prompt
authorities there to take a second look at their
assumption that Alberta is non-endemic for Lyme
disease.There are many confirmed cases of Lyme disease
in persons who had no record of travel outside of
BC. Six cases of Lyme disease were reported in 1999;
a total of 44 since 1991 but Dr. Banarjee believes
that this number may be much higher. In the United
States, about 70,000 cases of Lyme disease have
been recorded since 1975.Ticks are active whenever
the temperature is above five degrees C.and 80%
of cases occur between May and August. In general,
to transmit the disease, an infected tick must have
its mouthparts buried in the skin for at least 18-24
hours. Ticks can travel on birds, rabbits, hares,
ground squirrels, white-footed mice, deer, elk,
bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. However small
rodents (usually mice) are the best hosts for ticks
carrying Lyme bacteria. Due to extensive research,
we now have vaccines available for dogs, (cat and
people vaccines are just around the corner) topical
tick repellents, and new tools for removing ticks.
Pick up your free tick scoop, and let us advise
you on your best tick protection plan
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